Namma Metro: Pink Line may miss September deadline as it awaits approval

The Pink Line is a 21.3 km long corridor connecting Kalena Agrahara in south Bengaluru to Nagawara in the north. Of the total length, about 13.8 km is underground and 7.5 km is elevated. | Photo credit: File photo

The much-awaited elevated 7.5-km Pink Line section in Bengaluru may miss the next deadline to open to passenger services in September, while still awaiting approval from key regulators.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) is yet to receive rolling stock sanction for its application submitted to the Railway Board on September 7. According to sources, the approval is one of the mandatory steps to be completed before the corridor can be inspected and cleared for commercial operations.

Although the state government remains hopeful of launching the corridor this month, operations can begin only after completion of statutory procedures, including approval of rolling stock by the Railway Board and final safety clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS).

According to sources, BMRCL will have to submit an Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) signaling report to the CMRS after receiving the sanction for the rolling stock. The security commissioner will then examine the required documents and decide on the date of the inspection of the corridor.

After the inspection, CMRS clearance is expected to take another one to two weeks, sources said. The corridor would then have to be formally opened before passenger traffic could begin.

However, a senior BMRCL official said the company was not committed to a September opening without necessary approvals. “We said the elevated section of the Pink Line is expected to be inaugurated in September, subject to completion of all statutory approvals and clearances,” the official said.

Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda inspected the corridor on September 2 and said civil and high-rise works were ready. He had earlier hinted that the elevated section could be inaugurated and open to commuters once the center gives the necessary approvals.

“We are ready. As soon as the Government of India fixes the date, this stretch will be inaugurated and open to people for commuting,” Mr Gowda said.

The estimated opening date has changed several times. After taking charge of the portfolio, the minister initially announced that the elevated section between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere would be operational by 15 August 2026. He also said that the remaining underground section between Tavarekere and Nagawara should be completed by March 2027.

The Pink Line is a 21.3 km long corridor connecting Kalena Agrahara in south Bengaluru to Nagawara in the north. Of the total length, about 13.8 km is underground and 7.5 km is elevated.

The underground section will pass through several important areas including Dairy Circle, MG Road, Shivajinagar and Tannery Road, providing a vital north-south connection through the central parts of the city. The project has faced repeated delays and missed several earlier deadlines, leading to criticism from commuters waiting for the corridor to open.

Published – 16 Sep 2026 20:58 IST